Thurstan College

Thurstan College is a national school for boys in Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, providing primary and secondary education. It is located in the Cinnamon Gardens neighbourhood of Colombo 7 near the University of Colombo and the Royal College Colombo. The college is regulated by the central government. Thurstan College has an enrollment of 5,000 students. It prepares students for examinations conducted by the Ministry of Education. Its facilities include science and computer laboratories and a library. The school has more than 30 clubs and societies. It is easily recognised by the sacred Nuga tree in the grounds. The college colours are blue, gold and red. The college motto is "lead me from darkness to light". History Previous schools In 1859, A. J. Thurstan, an Anglican missionary and priest, founded a private technical-school that taught agricultural and craft skills. Thurstan funded the school, but it closed after a few years. In 1884, with the assistance of the British government, an agricultural school to promote the cinnamon industry was founded in the same location. The principal was H. W. Green, the director of education. This second school closed in 1910. Cinnamon was cultivated at the school and so the area, Colombo 7, became known as Cinnamon Gardens.